Update: Nov. 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET:
Months after a New Balance 993 collaboration was quietly teased in a lookbook for its Levi’s collection, Montreal creative agency JJJJound has unveiled the new project, confirming that it will include two different colorways.
In addition to the style seen in the Levi’s lookbook, JJJJound will bring back what is arguably its most popular colorway: the gray look it has previously used on New Balance’s 990v3, 992 and 991 sneakers.
While similar, the two shoes feature key differences. The gray style uses a white/cream midsole and a reflective silver tongue, while the previously seen keeps its two-tone look consistent with a black midsole and black suede tongue.
Both of the JJJJound x New Balance 993 sneakers are part of the sportswear brand’s made in USA line, which includes footwear with a minimum of 70 percent of its manufacturing done domestically.
The official colorway names for the pairs are “Military Urban Gray/Angora” (SKU U993JJ) and “Military Urban Gray/Black” (SKU U993JD).
An exact release date and pricing have not yet been announced, but both pairs are expected to be launched in December from jjjjound.com. Readers can expect more details soon.
What We Originally Reported on Aug. 29, 2024
These days, rollouts for collaborative sneakers are as lavish as ever; multi-month bouts of anticipation, short film advertisements and quirky campaigns are the norm. But every now and then, a brand will sneakily sprinkle in a teaser for an upcoming product, and that’s exactly what it looks like JJJJound is up to here.
In a lookbook shoot for its second JJJJound x Levi’s collection, launching September 6, the Montreal-based creative studio subtly included a previously unseen footwear project. Based on the teaser, it looks like a JJJJound x New Balance 993 is in the works which mimics the duo’s previous work on 2022’s 990v3 release.
The brown hues of that pair appear a bit more muted and olive-leaning on the 993, but otherwise the two collaborations follow the same blueprints. Both shoes don solid black midsoles, earth tone suede-and-mesh uppers, and contrasting black accents which break up the drab upper.
It is this simplistic yet nuanced formula that fans have come to expect from JJJJound, which has delivered a number of coveted New Balance collaborations since the brand’s first project together, a gray 990v4, in 2018.
And speaking of that first JJJJound x New Balance 990v4 collaboration, a similar looking pair was also featured in the Levi’s lookbook. However, based on its weathered appearance, it’s likely this pair is an original from ’18 rather than an upcoming release.
JJJJound was founded by Justin R. Saunders and began in 2006 as a self-described “digital mood board.” A popular Tumblr blog throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, the brand evolved into the design studio it’s known as today.
Aside from New Balance, JJJJound has collaborated with a number of footwear brands including A Bathing Ape, Adidas, Asics, Blackstock & Weber, Crocs, Dr. Martens, Padmore & Barnes, Puma, Reebok, ROA and Vans.
As for the JJJJound x New Balance 993, it’s likely that the project will be announced soon and released during the fall 2024 season. Readers can check back here for updates including confirmed release and pricing details.
